-LRB- InStyle.com -RRB- -- The co-star of `` 27 Dresses '' discusses his personal style .

`` I just feel dirty , '' says James Marsden . Not to be alarmed : There 's nothing indecent going on here .

James Marsden talks about his favorite kind of clothes and how his style has changed over the years .

The 34-year-old is explaining what it feels like to be sporting facial hair for a film he 's working on with Cameron Diaz .

Yet even the newly grown whiskers ca n't hide the finely chiseled features of an actor who seems to have cornered the Hollywood market on hottie-who-loses-the-girl roles -LRB- `` Enchanted , '' `` Superman Returns '' and , of course , `` The Notebook . '' -RRB-

But the Oklahoma-bred star does n't mind his wholesome image . `` That 's really me , '' he says . `` I 'm a little dorky -- awkward . '' However , his onscreen luck could be changing with his latest film , `` 27 Dresses , '' a romantic comedy co-starring Katherine Heigl . Scruffy or not , we 'll be watching .

You 've played a prince in `` Enchanted '' and the superhero Cyclops in the `` X-Men '' movies . Is that a big deal to your kids and their friends ?

My daughter , Mary , is only 2 , and my son , Jack , is 7 . He has a Cyclops action figure , but he 's really into Spider-Man and Pixar movies -- Buzz Lightyear is his guy . No `` Superman , '' no `` X-Men . '' I think he just assumes that everyone at his school has a dad who 's a big superhero .

You also played Corny Collins , the TV dance-show host in `` Hairspray . '' What were you like in high school ?

That 's when I came out of my shell and became more social -- people thought I was funny . I got into a whole preppy thing -- Duck Head shorts and Dockers .

How would you describe your style now ?

Functional comfort . For a guy , it should n't ever look like you thought about it too much , like the clothes are wearing you .

Whose clothes do you like ?

Paul Smith off the rack -- it 's a slim cut , and I do n't need to have it tailored . I always feel like an 8-year-old when I dress up in a suit , like , when can I take this thing off ? But I wore a black Dolce & Gabbana suit to the première of `` Hairspray '' that was like , OK , now I know what a great suit is . Classic , clean lines -- sharp , sharp , sharp .

Do you change your style from coast to coast ?

In L.A. it 's too easy to throw on a pair of American Apparel sweats , a T-shirt and running shoes and just wear those for days . In New York , I actually like looking nice . Maybe I 'm just getting older , but young guys need to pull their pants up .

Do you ever shop for your wife ?

I love shopping for dresses , and I actually do a pretty good job . When I was in New York , I went into J. Crew in Soho and got her a cool fifties type dress with tiny polka dots . Style-wise I 'm good , but figuring out sizing is a different story .

What do you find sexy on a woman ?

I like spaghetti straps for my wife -- she has great shoulders and a great neck . I love when she puts her hair up , because I can see the back of her neck , so delicate and vulnerable . It 's the vampire in me . Or my obsession with cheerleaders -- their hair up in a ponytail . When I was young , I could never have that .

Never got the cheerleader ?

Eventually -- my wife was a cheerleader .

What does your wife find sexy on you ?

A button-front shirt with -LSB- baby -RSB- spit-up on the shoulder . That means a guy is taking care of the kids and is a good father -- that 's sexy to a woman . The adult version of rose petals and champagne is if I let my wife sleep in and I get up to change the baby 's diaper , feed the kids , and do the dishes .

Who inspires you ?

Paul Newman . My middle name is Paul , and my grandfather once said I was going to look like Paul Newman . That stuck with me . Beyond being a good-looking guy , Newman is a great actor with a long career , and he 's got a life . He 's married with kids and lives in Connecticut , sells popcorn and marinara sauce , and gives the money to charity .

Anyone else ?

George Clooney dresses like Gary Cooper might have . Cary Grant . `` A Streetcar Named Desire '' - era Marlon Brando . They all made it look effortless . Their clothes framed their personalities really well -- comfortable , classic , but sharp . These guys could pull off a great suit , or jeans and a T-shirt .

Do n't you agree that guys have it easy -- they are considered `` distinguished '' as they grow older ?

I do n't think it 's guy-specific . As women get older , they become more comfortable with themselves . Susan Sarandon is the poster woman for that . A lot of guys fantasize about being with women who are in their forties or fifties .

So your advice is ... ?

Act your age . Dress your age . Look your age . That does n't mean you ca n't have fun .

And is n't it time you got the girl in one of your movies ?

There are a couple of things I need to do -LSB- onscreen -RSB- : One , get the girl ; two , pack a gun . Do n't you love my career philosophy ? E-mail to a friend

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In high school Marsden showed off his preppy side

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While it 's easy for him to throw on sweats , Marsden likes to dress up

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Actor says he is inspired by Paul Newman

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Marsden : I can shop style for women , but size is a different issue